Referee Howard Webb did not see the incident during the game, but on reviewing television evidence he did not consider it worthy of a sending-off.

United won the game 3-0 and Newcastle manager Alan Pardew said after the game he thought the incident needed to be investigated.

He said: "He has looked at Yohan and he has elbowed him, and I think that perhaps needs to be looked at, if I am honest.

"There's a bit of history from last year and I don't know if Robin has been caught up in that, but that was just a little bit unsavoury.

Not happy: Alan Pardew thought action needed to be taken (Photo: Alex Livesey)

"I actually thought Yohan wouldn't have gone down if he hadn't done something.

"I didn't see it myself, but I have obviously seen it on the replay and it looks like he has looked at him and put his elbow there."

The "history" referred to by Pardew was an incident involving Van Persie, then an Arsenal player, and Newcastle's Dutch goalkeeper Tim Krul which took place last season.

Webb’s decision was backed by ex-Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher.

He said: “I didn’t think it was an elbow. I thought it was a coming together of players, both racing for the ball and wanting to make the same ground.

“He’s pushed him out of the way, saying ‘I want to make this run and you’re in my way’. There is a great difference in drawing your elbow back and hitting him in the face.”

There will also be no action taken over Newcastle midfielder Cheick Tiote's apparent stamp on Tom Cleverley's leg in the same game, or the actions of Stoke defender Robert Huth, who was involved in a similar incident with Liverpool forward Luis Suarez on Sunday.

In both cases, the incidents were seen by officials at the time, so no further steps can be taken.